Voters Across Wisconsin Begin Early Voting Today as Result of Historic Lawsuit

MADISON, Wis. — With early voting beginning in numerous cities and municipalities around Wisconsin as result of Federal Judge James Peterson’s decision in One Wisconsin Institute, et. al. v. Thomsen, One Wisconsin Institute lauded the restoration of full early voting rights in Wisconsin.

“Voters being able to cast their ballots as result of our legal victory is the essence of Democracy,” said Scot Ross, Executive Director of One Wisconsin Institute. “This is a huge victory for Wisconsin voters and we are thrilled voters are able to exercise their right to vote.”

Judge Peterson’s decision noted specifically attempts to restrict early voting and a prohibition on weekend voting were done to discriminate against legal voters. Peterson’s ruling was a victory for the rights of Wisconsin voters and a clear repudiation of the five-year crusade of Gov. Walker and the Republican legislature to rig the electoral process for partisan political gain.

Over the course of the two-week court trial held in May, testimony from a Republican insider revealed that, in their private deliberations, GOP state Senators were “giddy” over the prospects of passing a law they believed would discourage voting and help them win elections. The witness, under oath, testified that current Republican Senate President Mary Lazich urged her colleagues to consider the impact of voter ID on areas of the state that have overwhelmingly supported Democratic candidates, including the City of Milwaukee and the state’s college campuses.

Ross concluded, “Our victory in court was a victory for democracy. We proved that the only fraud in our elections are partisan politicians like Gov. Scott Walker and the Republicans manipulating the laws for their own partisan political gain.”

One Wisconsin Institute is a non-partisan, progressive research and education organization dedicated to a Wisconsin with equal economic opportunity for all.